Warriors welcome a new leader

Colin Rowatt | Saturday, April 29, 2006 5:00

Chief of Defence Force Lt General Jerry Mateparae (left) watches while the mantle of leadership of the New Zealand Army was pla

ARMED SERVICES "The old net is laid aside: The new net goes fishing."

With those words the warriors of Ngati Tumatauenga (the New Zealand Army) yesterday farewelled their leader of the past three years and welcomed his successor.

The leadership transition was made on the national Army marae at Waiouru in a ceremony that blended military and Maori tradition.

While camouflage suits and standard khaki army uniforms, high polished footwear and gold braid dominated the scene, the procedure was very much in Maori mode ? a unique ceremonial format that the New Zealand Army has adopted for its formal occasions.

The highlight of the morning was the passing of the cloak of leadership from Lt Gen Jerry Mateparae, the new chief of New Zealand Defence Force to his replacement as Chief of the Army, Maj Gen Lou Gardiner.

The reference to the new fishing net came from principal speaker, Army Training Group Waiouru Commandant, Col Kevin Burnett.

He paid tribute to Gen Mateparae for his leadership which had resulted in the Army becoming a "vibrant and exciting" organisation, a professional army of world class and one with a "warrior culture" that exemplified courage, commitment, comradeship and loyalty.

Almost 500 New Zealand soldiers are serving in eight "trouble spots" around the world. At the same time the Army is continuing a long process of transform nation that enables it to carry out those roles and duties.

"That the Army is in good heart is the legacy of Gen Mateparae. He has lead by example while guiding, challenging and supporting us," Col Burnett said.

In reply Gen Mateparae suggested the Army wasn't losing him. "I am moving on and in the process I am picking up an Air Force and a Navy. But my heart will always be centred on the Army," he said.

Maj Gen Gardiner was welcomed but not challenged when he entered the marae. He is already a familiar figure among the troops after having been Commander of Joint Forces for the past two years and having previously served as Land Commander.

The 54-year-old joined the New Zealand Army in 1971 and after graduating from the Royal Military College at Duntroon, Australia, was appointed to the Royal New Zealand Ordnance Corps.

His 30 years as a career soldier has seen him in command roles on active service in Somalia and East Timor and in a range of operational, advisory and administrative roles within New Zealand and off shore.

He was supported on the mare by two group of his newest and youngest troop ? the current intakes of regular force and territorial force cadets.

Immediately after yesterday morning's ceremony at Waiouru the two Generals returned to Wellington where they were both formally and officially inducted into their new positions.